Wrench.



W. K. GIBSON.

WRENCH. APPLICATION-FILED OCT-18.19I6.

Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

INVTOR'.

I llkflGY- i hsnrv ATTORN EYS W. K. GIBSON.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- IB. I916- .Ei hsma,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR 1i 7M 1 9 1 7H 2 T a M d .w m a D1 WILLIAM K. GIBSON, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

WRENCH.

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Application filed October 18, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, l/VILLIAM K. GIBsQN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wrenches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates, generally, to improvements in wrenches; and, the present invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel and simply constructed wrench which is especially adapted for use with nuts and screw-bolts, but which may also be adapted for use as a pipe-wrench, all with a view of providing a device which is readily adjustable to nuts and pipes of different sizes, and the jaws of which, in a general manner, have a ratchet-like or sliding relation to the faces of the nut, so that the nut is turned when moving the tool in one di rection, but the nut is not turned when moving the tool in the opposite direction, for bringing the jaws of the wrench into operative relation with another set of faces, or the like.

The present invention, therefore, has for its principal object to provide a wrench ofthe general character .herein set forth in which the jaws are adjustable and at the same time have a yielding relation with one another, so that the tool can be readily employed for tightening-up or loosening purposes, in the manner of a ratchet-tool, which is of great benefit in many instances and especially where one is working in cramped spaces, or the like.

()ther objects of the present invention not at this time more particularly enumerated will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the present invention:

With the above and other objects in view, the said invention consists, primarily, in the novel wrench hereinafter set forth; and, the present invention consists, furthermore, in the novel arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the said parts, all of which will be more fully de- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

Serial No. 12e,24a

scribed in the following specification and then finally embodied in the clauses of the claim which is appended to and which forms an essential part of the said specification.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of a wrench illustrating one embodiment of the principles of the present invention, showing the tool in its operative relation with the faces of a nut, when tightening or securing the latter in the direction of the arrow w in said figure; and Figs. 2 and 3 are the two opposite edge views of the wrench. 1

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section of the wrench, said section being represented as taken on line 4: 4: in said Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a similar vertical sectional representation of the main portion of the wrench, illustrating its application with the faces of a nut in a ratchet-like or sliding manner; and Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section of the wrench, said section being taken on line 6-6 in said Fig. 4-, looking in the direction of the arrow y.

Fig. 7 is a detail transverse vertical sec tion on line 77 in said Fig. 4.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings, the reference-character 1 indicates the complete tool, shown in the present case as a bolt or nut-wrench, and the same comprises a handle 2 which is bifurcated at its one end, as at 3,'so as to provide a pair of cars or pivot-members 4. As indicated in the several figures of the drawings, these members 4 have their inner surfaceportions or faces cut away, as shown at 5 on the dotted lines indicated in Figs. 1, 4t and 5 of the drawings, the space thus formed between said members 4 providing a receiv ing space for the pivotal arrangement there in of the pivot-end 7 of a jaw-lever 6. The pivot-end of said jaw-lever 6 is provided at a suitable location with a hole or perforation 8 for the reception of a pivot-pin 9, which is also suitably mounted in come spondingly located holes or perforations 10 in the ears or pivot-members 4:, whereby the said j aw-lever 6 and the handle 2 are properly connected in their assembled relation as will be clearly evident. The said pivotend of the jaw-lever 6 is also provided at or elongated opening, as 11, the said ears or pivot-members i of the handle being. also provided with correspondingly located areshaped slots or openings, as 12, which are angularly disposed across the said slot or opening 1'1,'in substantially the manner indicated in said Figs. 1, at and 5 of the drawings. Movably mounted in said slots or openings 11 and 12 is a suitable pin 13, the purpose of which will be presently more fully stated. The opposite end-portion of the said j aw-lever 6 isformed with a suitable jaw, as 1 1, which is preferably of greater thickness than the thickness of the main portion of said lever 6, thus providing the said lever with off-sets, as 1.5. At a suitable point, below. said off-sets 15, is a hole or perforation 16, and mounted in said hole .or perforation 16 is a pivot-pin 17. Mounted upon the projecting end-portions of said pin 1'], sons to be capable of a rocking motion thereon, and so as to be mount.- ed upon the opposite faces of said jaw-lever 6, are the perforated end-portions 19 of a pair of laterally extending guiding members 1:8 of a suitably-formed jaw-guide, said members 18 being connected at their opposite end-portions with a downwardly extending lug'or projection, as 19, which is provided with a screw-receiving hole or perforation. 20. Rotatably mounted in said hole or perforation 20, against longitudinal movement therein, is a portion of the shank 21 of a jaw-adjusting screw, said shank being provided with a suitable shoulder 22, or other suitable retaining means, and with 1 a suitable knob or fingerpiece, as 24, which is secured upon the free end-portion of said shank by means of a'pin, as 23, or in any other suitable manner. Thus it will be seen, that bv this arrangement of the shoulder 22 and the said knob 24:, rotation of the shank in the hole or perforation 20 is possible, but any longitudinal movement of said shank in said hole or perforation 20 is thereby prevented. The said shank 21 of said j aw-adjusting screw, as a matter of course, is also screw-threaded, as at 24. Movably dis posed in the guiding space between the above-mentioned guiding members 18 of the jaw-guide is a member or element 25, carrying upon its upper portion a suitably-formed jaw, as 26,, and having in its lower end-portion a screw-threaded hole 27, into and through which the screw-shank 2% of the jaw-adjusting screw extends, so as to move said second-mentioned jaw in a forward or rearward direction for its proper adjustment with the jaw l i-of the jaw-lever 6 according to :the size of the nut, or other piece, which is to be clamped or grasped. .The

downwardly extending lug or projection 19 heretofore mentioned is also provided with a lower portion, as 21, formed with a p1nreceiving hole or perforation 28 in which is mounted a pivot-pin 29. The referencecharaoter 30 indicates a suitably formed link formed with bifurcated or slotted endportions. whereby the said link is formed at one end with a pair of members 31 and at its other end with another pair of members 32, the members 31 and 32 being suitably perforated. As is shown in the several figures of the drawings, the members 31 embrace the downwardly extending lug or projection 19 and are pivotally mounted upon said pivot-pin 2-9. The members 32 extend into the space between the ears or pivot-members l; of the handle 2, above the off-sets formed by the cut-away surface-portions 5, embracing the pivot-end 7 of the jaw-lever 6, and being mounted upon the pin 13, all of which will be clearly understood from an inspection of the several figures of the drawings.

In connection with the jaw-lever 6 there is used therewith a suitable spring, as 83, which is attach-ed to the edge of the said lever by means of a pin or screw 34, or any other suitable fastening means, the lower and actuating endportion of said spring 33 extending between the two end-members 32 of the link 30 and bearing directly upon the edge-portion 35 of the said link, as shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5 of the drawings. The purpose of this spring, as will be understood from an inspection more particularly of Fig. 4 is to maintain the normally relative positions of thehandle 2 and the jawlever 6.

Thus, when the various members of the wrench are in the positions indicated in said Figs. 1 and 4, the jaw-member or element 25 can be suitably adjusted by means of screw-shank 24 of the jaw-adjusting screw, so that the two jaws 14c and 26 are readily fitted against the surface'portions of a nut, or other element placed between the said jaws. By manipulating the wrench in the directions of the arrows m, or 1 see Figs. 1 or 4:, a rigid relation of the pivotally connected handle 2 and jaw-lever 6 is maintained, whereby the nut, or the like, is turned so as to be tightened, as will be clearly understood. However, by moving the handle 2 in the direction of the arrow 2 in said Fig. 1, the arrangement of the angularly disposed and crossed slots or elongated openings 11 and 12, will permit the handle 2 and jaw-lever 6 to assume a broken relation, see Fig. 5, causing the remaining members of the wrench to assume the relative positions indicated in said Fig. ,5, and in a ratchet-like manner, allowing the jaws 14 and 26 to slip over the corner-edges of the nut and to be forced by the action of the spring into operative engagement with another pair of faces of the nut, upon which anotherturn .can be exerted by again moving the handle of the wrench in the direction of the arrows m or y.

I am fully aware that changes may be made in the general arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as Well as in the details of the construction Or the said parts, without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the foregoing specification, and as defined in the clauses of the claim which are appended thereto. Hence, I do not limit my present invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the said devices and parts as described in the said specification, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of the said parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and, furthermore, although the elements herein shown and described are well adapted as a bolt or nut-tightening wrench, the illustrations herein serving merely to illustrate one use of the tool, it is to be understood that with slight changes in the construction, and especially of the jaws, the principles of this invention are readily adapted to a pipe-wrench, or the like, without departing from the scope of this invention.

I claim l. A wrench comprising a handle, a jawlever pivotally connected with said handle, said j aw-lever and said handle being provided with slots, a j aw-guide movably connected with said jaw-lever, a jaw movably mounted with relation to said jaw-guide, and means connecting said jaw-guide and the pivotally connected handle and jaw-lever consisting of a link pivoted at one end to said jaw-guide, and a pin at the other end of said link movably disposed in the slots of said jaw-lever and said handle to permit the wrench to be used in a ratchet-like mannor.

2. A wrench comprising a handle, a jawlever pivotally connected with said handle, said jaw-lever and said handle being provided with slots, a jaw-guide movably connected with said jaw-lever, a jaw movably mounted with relation to said jaw-guide, means connecting said jaw-guide and the pivotally connected handle and jaw-lever consisting of a link pivoted at one end to said jaw-guide, and a pin at the other end of said link movably disposed in the slots of said jaw-lever and said handle to permit the wrench to be used in a ratchet-like manner, and a spring attached to said jaw-lever and cooperating with said means for normally maintaining a rigid relation between said handle and the jaw-lever.

3. A wrench comprising a handle having a bifurcated end-portion providing a pair of pivot-members, said pivot members being formed with) elongated openings, a jawlever having one portion arranged between said pivot-members and pivotally connected therewith, said portion being provided with an elongated opening extendingangularly across the openings in said pivot-members, a pin mounted in the openings of said pivotmembers and the elongated opening of said jaw-lever, a jaw-guide movably connected with said aw-lever, a jaw movably mounted with relation to said jaw-guide, and means between said jaw-guide and the pivotally connected handle and jaw-lever to permit the wrench to be used in a ratchet-like manner.

4:. A wrench comprising a handle having a bifurcated end-portion providing a pair of pivot-members, said pivot members being formed with elongated openings, a j aw-lever having one portion arranged between said pivot-members and pivotally connected therewith, said portion being provided with an elongated opening extending angular-1y across the openings in said pivot-members, a pin mounted in the openings of said pivotmembers and the elongated opening of said jaw-lever, a jaw-guide movably connected with said j aw-lever, a aw movably mounted with relation to said jaw-guide, means between said j aw-guide and the pivotally connected handle and jaw-lever to permit the wrench to be used in a ratchet-like manner, and a spring attached to said jaw-lever and cooperating with said means for normally maintaining a rigid relation between said handle and the j aw-lever.

5. A wrench comprising a handle having a bifurcated end-portion providing a pair of pivot-members, said pivot members being formed with elongated openings, a. jawlever, having one portion arranged between said pivot-members and pivotally connected therewith, said portion being provided with an elongated opening extending angularly across the openings in said pivot-members, a pin-mounted in the openings of said pivotmembers and the elongated opening of said j aw-lever, a j aw-guide comprising a pair of guide-members formed with perforated endportions, a pivot-pin for pivotally connecting said end-portions with said jawlever, a perforated lug-like extension connected with said guide-members, an adjustingscrew rotatably mounted in said perforated lug-like extension against longitudinal movement, a jaw slidably mounted between and upon said guide-members, said jaw having a screw-threaded hole with which the screw-threaded portion of said adjusting screw is in operative engagement, and means between the lug-like extension of said guide-members and the pivotally connected handle and jaw-lever to permit the wrench to be used in a ratchet-like manner.

6. A wrench comprising a handle having a bifurcated end-portion providing a pair of pivot-members, said pivot members be ing formed with elongated openings, a jaw-- lever having one portion arranged between I said pivot-members and pivotally connected guide-members, said jaw having a screw threaded hole with which the screw-threaded portion of said adjusting screw is in operative engagement, means between the lug-like extension of said guide-members and the ,pivotally connected handle and jaw-lever to permit the wrench to be used in a ratchetlike manner, and a spring attached to said jaw-lever and coeperating with said means for normally maintaining'a rigid relation between said handle and the jaw-lever.

' Copies of thispatent may be obtained for 7. A wrench comprising a handle having a bifurcated end-portion providing a pair of pivot-members, said pivot members being formed with elongated openings, a jaw-lever having one portion arranged between said pivot -'members and pivotally connected therewith, said portion being provided with an elongated opening extending angularly across the openings in said pivot-members, a pin mounted in the openings of said pivotmembers and the elongated opening of said j aw-lever, a jaw-guide comprising a pair of guide-members formed with perforated endportions, a pivot-pin for pivotally connecting said end-portions with said jaw-lever, a perforated lug-like extension connected with said guide-members, an adjusting screw rotatably mountedinsaid perforated lug-like extension against longitudinal movement, a jaw 'slidably mounted between and upon said guide-members, said jaw having a screw-threaded hole with which the screwthreaded portion of said adjusting screw is in operative engagement, a' pivot-pin connected with said lug-like extension, and a link having a bifurcated end-portion pivotally connected with said pivot-pin, and another bifurcated end-portion connected with the pin mounted in the crossed elongated openings of the pivot-members of the handle and of the jaw-lever to permit the wrench to be used in a ratchet-like manner.

8. A wrench comprising a handle having a bifurcated end-portion providing a pair of pivot-members, said pivot members being formed with elongated openings, a jaw-lever having one portion arranged between said pivotmembers and pivotall connected therewith, said portion being provided with an elongated opening extending angularly across the openings in said pivot-members, a pin mounted in the openings of said pivotmembers and the elongated opening of said jaw -lever, a aw-guide comprising a pair of guide-members formed with perforated endportions, a pivot-pin for pivotally connecting said end-portions with said j aw-lever, a perfoi ated lug-like extension connected with said guide-members, an adjusting screw rotatably mounted in said perforated lug-like extension against longitudinal movement, a jaw slidably mounted between and upon said guide-members, said jaw having a screw-threaded hole with which the screwthreaded portion of said adjusting screw is in operative engagement, a pivot-pin connected with said lug-like extension, and a link having a bifurcated end-portion pivotally connected with said pivot-pin, and another bifurcated end-portion connected with the pin mounted in the crossed elongated openings of the pivot-members of the handle and of the jaw-lever to permit the wrench to be used in aratchet-like manner, and a spring attached to said jaw-lever at its one end and having its other end in engagement with said link for normally maintaining a rigid relation between said handle and the jaw-lever.

In testimony, that I claim the invention I set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 13th day of October, 1916.

I VILLIAM K. GIBSON. Witnesses:

ALLAN GIBSON, FREDK. C. FRAENTZEL.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patent? Washington, D. G. 

